James was sitting in the lounge room reading the Daily Prophet when the shrill cry of a baby started up.
"James," Lily called from the kitchen, where she was kneading dough for scones, "could you get Harry, please? I'm a bit tied up here. You'll probably have to change his nappy."
James closed his eyes for a moment and sighed before folding up the paper and setting it aside. They'd only had Harry for two days, and James was already tiring of his high-pitched cries. Not that he didn't love the boy: James just looked forward to the day his voice broke.
James trudged down the hall and pushed open the door to Harry's room. He looked down ruefully at his screaming son, briefly wondering how he'd gotten himself into this situation. A wonderfully... wonderful situation, but an agitating one nonetheless.
He picked up the baby (such a tiny little thing, James couldn't help but marvel) and rocked him gently for a few moments. He thrust the curtains open, disentangled Harry from his baby blanket and laid him down on their change table.
"Sh-sh," James hushed, but Harry was having none of it. He continued to kick and flail while James unbuttoned his jumpsuit. James ran his fingers down Harry's tummy in an effort to calm him, and noticed something alarming.
"Lily!" James called up the hall, a frantic note in his voice.
"What?" she called back quickly, picking up the tone of his yell.
"It's Harry. He- he's yellow."
There was a pause.
"He's what?!"
A few moments later James heard Lily scurrying down the hall and she appeared by his side.
"Look, his skin's all yellow!" James said, gesturing to Harry's abdomen.
"Let me see," said Lily, and she leaned over Harry to get a better look. She drew her lower lip into her mouth in thought. "Oh," she continued after a moment. "That's okay."
James stared at her like she was a madwoman.
"'Okay'? What do you mean, 'okay'? In my experience people aren't supposed to be yellow."
"No, love, it's fine. He just has jaundice. One of the Healers at St. Mungo's told me about it."
"He has something and it's 'fine'?!" James' voice got higher and higher pitched as he got more concerned.
"It's normal. Lots of babies get it. It'll go away in a few days. A week at most. Pass me that clean cloth nappy, please," she replied, pointing across the room.
James obliged, before stuttering, "But- he's yellow. That's not normal."
Lily made quick work of changing Harry's nappy, did up his jumpsuit and picked him up, cradling him in her arms. He quietened down almost immediately, content to gaze into his mother's eyes.
James pouted. "Sure, he stops crying for you."
Lily grinned and said, "Do you know what I went through to get this kid? He'd better stop crying whenever I want him to!"
"I remember," James replied. "I was there. You nearly broke my hand, need I remind you."
"Oh, I did not. I'm not strong enough to do that."
"I assure you, dearest, you have quite the arm on you."
"Well," said Lily as she patted Harry's bottom rhythmically, "Sorry about that."
"I forgive you," he said good-naturedly. He put an arm around Lily's back and kissed her temple. "You're sure he'll be okay?"
"Positive. But if it makes you feel any better, I'll take him straight down to St. Mungo's at the slightest sign of trouble."
"Thanks," he replied. He looked down at his son for a few moments before remembering, "Oh. How're those scones coming along?"
Lily just grinned.
Author's Note: So I read the word 'yellow' and the first thing I think of is jaundice. Go figure. :P