A/N: So here is version three, for Ginny fans…

Standard disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any related characters. Looked into buying the rights, found I was several billion dollars short. Or, to paraphrase a disclaimer I saw on robst's site, my thanks to Ms. Rowling for allowing all of us to build sandcastles on her beach. Enjoy.

In. Out.

Ginny was curled on her left side as the pain came again. She closed her eyes and concentrated on her breathing as the contraction reached its peak.

In. Out.

In. Out.

Slow and steady. The contraction caused an orange glow that started low in her back and abdomen and ended up behind her eyelids. It shifted and flowed, almost like the northern lights. She could hear the healer talking quietly to her, feel Harry rubbing her back.

In. Out.

In. Out.

Then it eased up. She opened her eyes. Harry smiled at her. "How're you holding up?" he asked, squeezing her hand.

"Still okay."

"Was that one stronger?" asked Haylie, the midwife.

"Yes. A lot." She had been walking around for the first hour or two after arrival to the birthing center, hanging on to Harry's or her a parent's arm, but didn't feel like it now.

"Then we might be getting to the active phase. Let's see." Haylie waved her wand in a tight circle. The charm caused a faint blue glow over her abdomen.

"Just over 4 cm dilated, Ginny, and nearly fully effaced. So you've officially entered the active phase. So, on average about 5 hours to get to 10 cm." Haylie know Ginny liked things laid out for her.

Ginny and Harry had been nervous about finding a Healer for her pregnancy. The Boy-Who-Lived and the Quidditch star dealt with rabid and frankly crazy fans all the time. Letting someone new into their lives intimately was a difficult thing. Fortunately they found Haylie. She had been a birthing healer for years, and had seen it all. Her only acknowledgement of Harry's status was a sincere 'thank you,' then the focus was on Ginny and what she wanted for her delivery. They were very pleased with her care and now considered her a friend.

"Hmph. I'm going to try the occlumancy for a bit. Don't wake me up unless you have to. It might take a few minutes." They had talked during her labor classes about her meditating for pain control, and Haylie was fine with it. She was curious to see how it would work, and if she could modify it for other patients or other problems. There were some things spells or potions couldn't do or fix.

"Okay, Ginny. I'll be right here."

"Thanks, Haylie."

Harry pulled a chair up to Ginny's bed and sat, leaning his arms on the mattress. "You ready?" he asked, taking her hand.

Ginny nodded and looked deep into his eyes, brown meeting green. Harry whispered under his breath "Legilimens."

They floated in the darkness, tightly holding hands. There was a single point of light in the distance. It flew towards them, or they towards it, there was no frame of reference here. It hovered in front of her, now an inch or so in diameter. It flashed with colors, blue and green and white. Ginny put her eye up to it and they were sucked into her mental sanctuary in a flash.

They stood in a field of tall green grass and wild flowers of every color. There was the soft hum of the bees as they gathered pollen and nectar, and the chirping of birds in the distance. The sky was a bright summer blue with a few white streaky clouds high up, seemingly above the sun. Ahead was a familiar twisted lopsided tower of a house, the Burrow. For both of them, this was home more than any other place.

Ginny pushed open the front door and they went inside. It was just like Ginny remembered from her childhood, and Harry remembered from the first time he visited. The rooms were odd shaped, the furnishings worn and mismatched. All that was missing was the crowd of other Weasleys bustling about. But it was home, the first either had, and they were safe here.

They looked at each other and smiled. They said at the same time "Home sweet home."

Harry looked at his very pregnant wife. "Shall we?"

Harry helped her lower herself on the sofa in front of the fireplace, and sat down next to her, holding her hand. On the side table were books on pregnancy and birthing. At the bottom of the stack was a book titled "The Mind Arts." As the wife of Harry Potter, and for her own fame, they felt it important that she learn Occlumancy. It wasn't until much later that they figured that not only could it keep people out, but it could allow a refuge and shared experience if you let someone in. They decided to try it for Ginny's labor and see if they could go without charms or potions.

Ginny felt a slight twinge of a contraction. The light through the window had a trace of orange, and the front door creaked as something pushed against it. She closed her eyes and focused on her breathing.

In. Out.

In. Out.

Soon the twinge went away and the sky was blue again. She was going to be here for a few hours.

Harry let go of her hand and put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her. Another contraction started. Ginny did her breathing.

In. Out.

In. Out.

"Should I make you some tea, or anything?" Harry asked after she opened her eyes.

"No. Just hold me. I just need you near."

"I don't feel like I'm helping much."

"Sometimes it doesn't take much to help, Harry. Just help me stay calm and focus."

Another contraction.

In. Out.

In. Out.

The windows turned a dark orange, the walls bowed in and the roof gave a few pops.

"Getting stronger?"

"Yeah."

"Here." Harry slid to the end of the sofa, propped himself against the arm rest and held out his arms. Ginny scooted over and settled herself in front of him. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his hands on her abdomen. They were warm, and she felt herself relaxing as the warmth spread through her body.

"Hmmm. That feels nice. See, you are helping." She leaned back against him, putting her head on his shoulder and resting her arms on top of his.

They stayed like that for a while, contractions coming and going, her sanctuary and Harry's hands and presence keeping the pain down. The orange light came and went darkening over time, but the walls maintained their integrity.

"Getting close, do you think?" Harry asked eventually.

She sighed. "Don't know for sure. I can tell my body is getting a bit tired, but this is working well, so I don't know how things are progressing on the outside.

"Don't you mean in your insides on the outside?"

"Ha ha. Funny."

"Thank you."

"But not very."

"Hey, I thought it was good. Lighten the mood and all."

"My mood is actually good. I'm just feeling quiet."

Harry just hugged her tight and kissed her on her cheek. "I like being quiet with you."

"Thanks, Harry. I love you." She drew in a breath as another contraction started. Despite the warmth of Harry's hands on her abdomen, this one hurt. The windows blazed orange, and the walls again shifted and groaned.

In. Out.

In. Out.

She focused on her breathing and it passed.

"I must be getting closer. That was a strong one."

"About time. I was starting to wonder if she was ever going to come."

"Must take after you, then. I'm always early."

Harry just chuckled softly into her ear. "Good one."

A shadow fluttered in front of the window by the door, and there was a tapping on the glass. Ginny opened it with a wave. A raven flew in, muttering to itself, a piece of parchment in its beak. Ginny took it and the raven flew off. It said "Ginny, it's time."

"Seems like she's finally ready. Time to go love." She sounded a bit nervous.

"I know. You'll do fine."

"Thanks Harry. I love you."

"I love you too. Now I think Haylie and our daughter need you."

Ginny kissed Harry long on the lips. Relaxing back in his arms, she concentrated on the journey back out. She floated through the darkness with its single star before the outer world arrived with a rush of noise and light. She woke to hear Haylie saying "Ginny. Ginny, it's time. Time to wake up." She found herself in the middle of another contraction.

"Ahhhaaahhhahhhaaahhaaahh." Ginny felt red and yellow waves of sharp pain deep in her back and pelvis and into the region between her legs. It hurt like hell. She felt a thin layer of sweat break out on her chest and face. She was glad she didn't have much to eat that morning.

Harry squeezed her hand. "Breathe, Ginny, breathe."

Ginny lost her temper briefly. "Let's see you breathe with a bludger shoved up your…."

"Language, Ginny." He caught her eyes, trying not to laugh. "Breathe."

Ginny calmed, focused on her breathing.

In. Out.

In. Out.

The contraction passed. "Sorry, poor timing," Haylie said, rubbing Ginny's lower back. "But I didn't know how long it would take to wake you."

The contraction had ended, but the sharp pain did not recede all the way. Despite the meditation blocking the pain, she could tell her body had been working hard for a while. She felt achy and tired and quivery in her muscles, and vaguely motion sick. "Ooo, that hurt. Please tell me we're getting close."

"Yes, we are. You were complete a while ago, and the baby has been coming down nicely. The charms said you were both doing fine, so I didn't want to wake you. How did the occlumancy work?"

"Really well. With Harry's help, I didn't feel much until right before you called."

"Good. You've looked really comfortable from out here. Well, with the last contraction I could see a patch of hair. You'll probably feel the urge to push soon, if you don't already, so it was time."

"Good," Ginny said. She rested for a minute. "Can I sit up a bit?"

"Of course. Let me adjust the bed." The head of the bed rose, and Harry helped her shift onto her back. The foot lowered and she felt some of the back pain ease.

"Oh, that feels a bit better."

"Good. You're starting to stretch a bit, would you like a heating charm?"

"Please." Ginny felt a deep warmth, and felt the muscles relax a bit. Just like after a quidditch match. "Ahhhh. That helps." A few moments later she felt the tightening start again. "Here comes another one." She closed her eyes and did her breathing.

In. Out.

In. Out.

The contraction was more powerful and painful, and the pain in her pelvis was sharper, with brighter shades of red and yellow. Sweat started dripping down into her eyes.

"Good, good. Looks like the position change let the head and shoulder come around the corner some more. Do you feel like you want to push?" Ginny shook her head, still focusing on her breathing. The contraction eased, but the pain in her pelvis remained.

She heard water dripping, then Harry put a cool cloth on her forehead. "Getting closer. The top of the head is still just visible. Should be soon. You're doing great." Ginny nodded without speaking. Haylie renewed the heating charm.

Soon the next contraction arrived, the reds and yellows brighter. The pain threatened to overcome her focus, and she felt a flutter of panic. She gripped Harry's hand tightly. She felt warmth on her cheek, heard Harry's whisper in her ear. "Breathe, Ginny." She concentrated on her breathing, and the pain felt farther away.

In. Out.

In. Out.

The contraction faded away. The cool cloth was replaced on her forehead, and she scrubbed her face with it. She felt tired. She felt sore. She felt big. She felt like she was going to be split in two. She felt tempted to have potions and spells take all the pain away. She felt another brush on her cheek. She opened her eyes to see Harry's green eyes staring back. He smiled. She felt better. She felt loved. She stretched her aching back, and scooted up in the bed a bit.

Soon she felt the tightening starting again, and it quickly escalated. The pain was accompanied by a pressure in her bum.

In. Out.

In...

Her breathing faltered. "Good, Ginny, good. Good progress with this one." Haylie noted the skip in the breathing. "Do you feel like you want to push?" Ginny nodded emphatically. "Good. Take a deep breath and hold it, focus on the pressure in your bum and push it out. Ginny held her breath, focused on the pressure and pushed.

"Excellent, lots of movement. Keep pushing, keep pushing. Good. Keep pushing until you need to breathe or the contraction ends."

Ginny strained and pushed, then the contraction eased and she gasped for air. "Ow ow ow ow ow..." The pain was nearly to the skin level now, and felt like a round ring of fire trying to burn its way out.

"I know, I know. Lots of stretching. A few more and we should have a baby. You're doing great."

She heard Harry ask "Is that her head?"

"Yep. Just starting to come out. Do you want to feel it, Ginny?"

Ginny nodded. "Let me have your hand." Her hand was guided down, and she could feel a slightly squishy hair-covered lump. "There's your baby. Almost here." Tears sprang to her eyes. This more than anything else, her swollen tummy, the kicks and flops and rolls, made it real. She was going to have a baby. She was going to be a mother. She touched it again, mentally reassuring her daughter and taking strength from her at the same time.

The next contraction ramped up quickly, and Ginny took a breath and pushed before Haylie could tell her. "Good Ginny, good! Keep going." Ginny felt the ring of fire burn and spread. Harry was holding her hand tight and whispering support in her ear. She let out a wordless yell. "Good, good, good. The head's coming... almost... almost... Ok, the head's out Ginny, stop pushing for a second. Breathe through it."

Ginny grunted and shook her head. She needed to push. Harry's voice cut through the red and yellow haze. "Breathe, Ginny, breathe."

In. Out.

In. Out.

She heard the squishy noise of the mouth and nose being suctioned. "Ready to finish?" Haylie asked. She nodded. "OK, go."

Ginny took another breath in and pushed. She felt hands enter around her daughter and press down. "Push, push, push, push," chanted Haylie. Ginny felt the stretching increase again, saw red and yellow in her vision. There was a small 'pop' and suddenly she felt like her insides were falling out.

"OK Ginny, you can relax! Here it comes. Your baby's out!" Ginny panted heavily, the ring of fire fading fast. Her legs started shaking, then her hands. She felt suddenly cold. "Good job, Ginny, you did great," said Haylie. She noticed the shaking. "The shaking is normal, it's the adrenaline. If you feel nauseated you let me know. You were right, it's a girl, and she looks wonderful." Haylie severed and cauterized the cord, and cast cleaning and warming charms on the baby.

"Open up your gown." Ginny looked down and saw Haylie drying off a slippery slimy squirming tiny baby. "Here you go." She opened her gown and Haylie placed the naked baby on her bare chest with a wide smile. She closed the gown over the baby, then covered them both with a couple of blankets. Ginny looked into the bright blue eyes that were staring back up at her from under the blankets. There was a thick cloud of black frizzy hair, sticking up in all directions from the cleaning charms. She wrapped her arms around her precious bundle and laid her head back, exhausted.

Harry was back, kissing the top of her head. Ginny turned to him and he gave her a kiss that she felt down to her toes. They broke the kiss, foreheads still touching. She looked into his eyes. She could see the crinkles from his smile. "You did it. I'm so in awe of you right now. What an amazing thing. Thank you for this." He looked down at his daughter, put a hand on her hair. "She's so beautiful."

"We did it, Harry. I couldn't have done it without you."

"You flatter me. I know I got the easy part."

Ginny smiled, then grunted as she felt a sharp pain down below.

"Sorry, Ginny, just checking. You have a bit of a tear, right near the outside. No major damage, but it's big enough that it'll need a healing charm. You remember our discussion about all the things I have to do after the delivery?"

Ginny nodded tiredly, lay her head back again and closed her eyes. Harry stroked her head gently. "Yeah. Go ahead." Now that the baby was out she was fine with more invasive magic.

"First is the charm to help the placenta deliver and to prevent bleeding. Ready?"

Ginny nodded again. She felt another strong contraction, followed by a sliding, gushing feeling, then she heard a couple of plops.

"All done with that. Now for your little tear." There was a soft 'tergeo' followed by a soft 'episky.' It was over before Ginny could even register any pain. She reached around on the bed.

"What do you need, Ginny?" asked Harry.

"A pillow. I need to be up a bit more." Harry grabbed a pillow and propped her head up. She stared into her daughter's eyes again. Such a pretty shade of light blue, like the cornflowers in the meadow of her inner place, or the sky. She stroked a cheek with the back of her finger. So soft.

"Hello, Lily Luna. Welcome to the world." They had agreed on the name even before she was pregnant. Her daughter blinked and stared back some more. Tears tracked down her face, and she wiped them with her hand, sniffing.

Haylie looked up. "Alright there Ginny?"

"Alright, just emotional."

"That's normal. Just let it come. You said Lily Luna?" Ginny nodded. "That's a lovely name."

Ginny smiled and nodded again. "Harry's mum's name, our friend's name." Family and friends were important.

Haylie continued. "Ready to try nursing? Once we get her latched on well, we could let some other visitors in if you wanted."

"Thanks. I want to see everyone." Ginny tugged at her gown, opening it up. Haylie raised the head of the bed and positioned a pillow on her lap. Ginny scooted up in bed a bit and arranged Lily in the crook of her left arm. She rolled her in towards her breast and used her right hand to tap her lips. Lily's mouth and eyes opened wide on instinct and Ginny pulled her close and popped her breast into the waiting mouth. Lily started sucking, her little jaw working, and stared up at Ginny's face for a moment before her eyes closed in contentment.

"Nicely done. Any pain?" asked Haylie.

"No pain. A little weird, but it doesn't hurt."

"Good," said Haylie. "Let's get you covered up a bit, then I'll fetch your family. You want them all in?" She smiled to let Ginny know she was teasing. But there really were a lot of Weasleys, plus assorted friends. Haylie arranged a blanket to provide privacy but still allow the baby to be visible.

"Oh, yes. They've been waiting so long already."

"Alright, I'll send them in. I'll be in and out tidying up a bit, then I'll be at the desk doing my paperwork. Did you want some tea, or anything?"

Ginny looked down at her daughter, still nursing.

"When we're done, I guess. I don't know if I'm coordinated enough yet for nursing and drinking."

Haylie laughed again. "You will be soon, to be sure. Back in a tic. Give a shout if you need me."

Ginny looked down at her precious daughter as her mum and dad came in the room, smiling, soon followed by her brothers, sisters-in-law and assorted nieces and nephews. Luna and Neville came in too. Friends and family all. Rather than overwhelmed by the crowd, she felt connected and supported. Harry looked happier than she had ever seen him, except maybe for their wedding day. Her mum came to give her a hug as her dad and Bill were telling Harry about the birth of their children. We did it, Harry. We made a miracle. She looked around the room. Family. She sighed contentedly.

In.

Out.

A/N: I know Lily Luna was born third, but I'm partial to daughters . So there you go. A more 'natural' birth in the magical world, though I suppose magic is 100% natural. An interesting debate.