A/N: Yea to me, I finally finished this chapter! I hope you like it, so please review and let me know what you think!

Born As The Seventh Month Dies

On the morning of July thirty first, Lily woke up extremely early to the sound of a sharp tapping on her and James's bedroom window. She didn't sleep much that night because yesterday afternoon, Alice had sent her and owl saying that she had just gone into labor. She hurried out of bed – well, as fast as her swollen belly would let her – and immediately opened the window to let the owl in. It was a short note that read.

It's a boy! Neville Longbottom was born at nine twenty four p.m. on July 30th .

Lily beamed as she set the note on her bedside table before she started to get ready. In a few hours, Lily had her last Healer's appointment before her due date. She had been on maternity leave for a little over a two weeks, and was about to go crazy. She was not one to be locked up in her house for very long, and her raging hormones did not make her mood any better.

She and James had a quick breakfast and left for St. Mungo's early. Since Lily couldn't go see Alice last night, she and James were just going to go early this morning before her appointment.

Once Lily and James were on the maternity floor of St. Mungo's, Lily asked the witch at the desk, "What room is Alice Longbottom in?"

"All the way down the hall, past the second waiting room and she's the third door on the left," the witch replied warmly. Lily thanked her and she and James made their way down the hall. When they made it to the second waiting room, they saw a beaming Frank sitting there with his mother and what appeared to be various other family members.

"What are you two doing here?" Frank asked when he saw Lily and James.

"Lily wanted to come by to check on Alice," said James. "And congratulations, mate," he added as he shook Frank's hand.

"Thanks a lot," Frank said as he hugged Lily.

"Well, I'm going to see the new mummy," Lily smiled as she went to see Alice, leaving James with Frank.

She walked down the hall, found the room that Alice was in, and stuck her head in the room. Her best friend was sitting up in her bed, looking out the window with a faint smile on her face.

"Hey, honey," Lily said. Alice turned to her friend, her smile steading steadily growing.

"Come on in, Lils," Alice said.

Lily sat on the edge of the bed and gave her friend a large hug. "Congratulations, Alice,"

"Thanks," Alice replied as her eyes filled with tears.

"So how are you feeling?"

"I'm alright, all things considering,"

"And the baby?"

"Just fine...you should see him Lil, he's so beautiful,"

There was a knock on the door and a nurse came in hold a bundle of blankets. "Oh, hello, I didn't realize you had a visitor,"

"It's alright," Alice replied as her face lit up.

The nurse handed Alice the baby and, more from instinct than anything else, she held him close to her chest. "Hey there, Neville," she cooed. Neville's face, which was still a little pink, was round, much like Alice's, but he had Frank's nose.

"You're right Alice, he's beautiful,"

"Thanks," Alice replied, though she never took her eye off her son.

"Well, I need to get going...I've got my last appoint in about ten minutes, but I'll come back after, okay?"

"Okay," Alice gave Lily a one armed hug, said there good byes, and Lily left.

000

"Alright Lily," said Healer Thomas, "there's just one more thing we need to do,"

Lily nodded, laid back on the table, and put her feet in the metal stirrups.

"I hate this," Lily mumbled as James held her hand.

"All finished," the Healer said as Lily sat up. "Have you had any contractions?"

Lily was about to reply 'no' when a sudden pain seemed to be crushing her lower abdomen. She tried to breath, but couldn't – instead, she squeezed James's hand as hard as she could.

Finally, it stopped. "That was my first," she said.

"Well, you're three centimeters dilated, so I'd like to keep you here. I don't expect you to deliver anytime soon, but we need to you to stay,"

Lily could feel her heart beating faster. "Okay,"

000

Eleven o'clock p.m. Twelve hours later. Twelve long, painful, nerve racking hours later, and still no baby. Lily was so exhausted that if she wasn't about to give birth at any time, she probably would have passed out. Her mother, Sirius, Remus, and Elizabeth were moving between her room, the waiting room, and the tea room.

Right now, everyone was in the waiting room while Healer Thomas was examining Lily.

"It's time, Lily," said Healer Thomas, "I'll tell your family and friends what's happening and then we'll things going."

Lily nodded as her Healer left. She felt James put his arm around her shoulder.

"James?"

"Yeah, babe?"

"I know I've been a real pain these past few months, but I just want to tell you something...I'm glad that your hear with me...I can't imagine going through this with anyone else,"

He kissed her temple. "Same here, Lils,"

"Okay, Lily," said Healer Thomas, who had returned with a two nurses. "When your next contraction comes, I need you to push,"

"Yeah," Lily tried to regulate her breathing, preparing for what was coming. But her breath caught when the contraction hit.

"Push, Lily," Healer Thomas said.

Lily thought she was going to die – that's how much it hurt. The Cruciatus Curse had nothing on child birth. She let out a piercing scream as tears fell from her eyes. What seemed like hours later, Healer Thomas said, "Alright Lil, the head is out. One more push should do it."

Lily nodded and braced herself once again. With what little energy she had left, she pushed until she thought she was going to pass out.

"It's a boy!" said the Healer from somewhere between her legs. As Lily slumped against the bed, she could hear her baby – her son – crying, which only made her cry more. "Time of birth," Healer Thomas continued, "Eleven forty eight p.m., thirty first of July."

Moments later, the Healer gave the baby, wrapped in a pale blue blanket, to Lily. She lovingly cradled her son, taking him in. He was so small, a pink face, and a small patch of black hair. Even now, she knew that her son would look just like his father – who had on hand on the baby and tears in his eyes.

All of the pain she had felt for the last twelve hours had disappeared. How could you love someone so much that you've only known for a minute? Just then, the baby stopped crying and looked up at his parents with a pair of astonishing emerald eyes.

"He has his mother's eyes," James said.

"But he looks like you," she smiled as she kissed her husband. "Here," Lily handed their son to James. He carefully held the infant, looking slightly nervous at holding someone so small.

"Mr. Potter, we need to take him for just a few minutes," said one of the nurses.

"Why?" he asked protectively.

"We just need to give him a physical, make sure he's healthy."

James nodded and handed the nurse his son.

000

Sirius glanced around the waiting room for what felt like the thousandth time. Mrs. Evans was nervously staring at the floor, Remus was looking though the Daily Prophet, and Elizabeth had fallen asleep on his shoulder. He looked at his watch – it was ten past twelve.

He heard someone's footsteps and looked up. A pretty, blonde nurse had just entered the waiting room. "Are you here with the Potters?" she asked the group.

Elizabeth woke up and everyone sat a little straighter.

"Yes," said Mrs. Evans.

"Follow me, please,"

They all stood up and followed the nurse down the hall. The nurse knocked on the door before she led them in. They saw Lily sitting up in her bed, and James sitting on the edge, holding a bundle of blankets.

They looked up, beaming, when the heard them knocking. Mrs. Evans rushed her daughter, holding Lily's face in her hands and asking if she was alright.

"Yes, Mum, I'm fine, just fine," Lily replied, sounding exhausted.

They all gave Lily and James their congratulation as they passed the baby around.

"So are you sticking with Harry?" Remus asked Sirius passed the newborn to him.

"Yeah...Harry James Potter," Lily answered.

By the time Harry finally got back to his mother, which was an hour later, Healer Thomas came in. "I hate to intrude, but Lily really does need to get some rest. You are all more than welcome to come back first thing tomorrow morning."

They all bid James and Lily good night, promising that they would return first thing in the morning.